Russia suspended from G8, condemned by French president

Russia suspended from G8 although Russian President Vladimir Putin is still invited to visit France in June, says French Foreign Minister

PARIS - French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced Russia's suspension from the G8, a forum for the governments of the eight leading industrialized countries.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin is still invited to visit France on June 6, said Fabius.

“As for G8, we decided to suspend Russia’s membership,” Fabius said live on radio station Europe 1. “All seven leading world powers, except Russia, are expected to meet,” he added.

Fabius added that France has also postponed plans for a scheduled visit of senior delegates to Moscow saying that a trip to Moscow at this time would be "inappropriate" and be "misinterpreted and seen as a sign that France support what is happening in Crimea when it’s not the case.”

France can also suspend a deal of selling helicopter assault ships to Russia if more sanctions are adopted against Moscow over Ukraine, said Fabius.

Meanwhile French President François Hollande also condemned Moscow and Putin's decision to sign a treaty that makes Crimea a part of Russia again saying it was "against Ukrainian law and international law."

Hollande added that the EU summit being held March 20-21 will be an opportunity to firmly respond to Russia.